Remote indicating system



Feb. 25, 1941. H. s. PoLlN E-r AL REMOTE INDICATING SYSTEM QMSN 0% 0. mMvNOkmQbN Nmd Feb. 25, 1941. H. s. PQLIN E'rAL REMOTE INDICATING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gro urrded En A HPB

Filed Aug. 14, 193.5

3y Sheets-Shet 3 H. s. PoLlN x-:TAL A REMOTE INDICATING SYSTEM Feb. 25, 1941.

Filed Aug. 14, 1935 Patented Feb.-

PATENT orFics 2,233,297 t v REMOTE iNnrcA'rlNc. SYSTEM Herbert S. Polin, Sands Point, Long Island, and Francis B. Stoddert, New York, N. Y., .assignors to Harry A. Furman, Schenectady, N. Y. y

Application August 14, 1935, Serial No. 36,128 8 Claims. (Cl. 73-304) This invention relates to electrical indicating devices and more particularly to apparatus for remotely indicating the condition .and sea water content 01E-watertight bulkheads or compartments on ships.

In certain types of naval vessels, especially war vessels of modern construction, steel compartments or tanks are uniformly disposed about the interior of the hull below the water line. Pipe lines connect t0 the individual compartments for purposes of nllingthem with sea water and for thereafter draining them. These tanks are commonly. designated ln naval parlance as damage control compartments.

When the ship is in proper 4trim prior to a naval engagement the tanks are arranged as to content in variable relation from compartment to compartment, being either empty or containing, sea water in accordance with a pattern determined -by the damage control ofilcer.

- If, during an engagement, one or more of these compartments is ripped open by a shell and nooded with sea water, the ship tends to list in the direction of the hit. The damage control oflicer upon determining which compartments have been destroyed, floods by means'oi the pipe lines, undamaged compartments so allocated as to compensate the list.

It is essential that the damage control-officery be provided with means for speedily checking the condition of each compartment in order to locate those damaged during an engagement, or more vgenerally to check the system. It is also desirable.` that this infomation be made available at some central point, as on one or more conveniently located panel boards vprovided with suitable means for remotely indicating the status of each compartment. i

Alternatively, in the case or non-combatant vessels, it is desirable to-have an indication of water leakage due to a parting of a seam, a

break in a. water main, etc.

'I'he present invention provides an electrically actuated remote indicating system of the character and for the purpose above stated, having as an outstanding eature of novelty the`,fact that it does not rely` on the artiilcially generated power of the ship for operation, but to the con-I. trary is automatically self-energized by naturally occurring energy transformations resulting from contactof the sea water with electrodes or the indicating apparatus.

The invention is based on the well understood principle that when a. pair oi' electrodes, which `are electro?pctentially dissimilar, for ekample,

composed respectively of dissimilar metals such as an aluminum or silver electrode paired with a copper electrode, or other electrodic material, as carbon, cadmium or the like, are'immersed in an electrically conducting solution or electrolyte, such as sea water, a potential diilerence will be established between themI of' a magnitude dependent on the particular electrodes selected.

"The arrangement thus constitutes an electro' lytic cell generating avoltage which may be emv ployed to actuate la suitable indicating device such as a meter connected between the elecf trodes.

According to one aspect of the invention, each vdamage control compartment has disposed therein a pair of electrodes. At strategic locations about the ship,'control panels are provided. each of which is equipped with a plurality o! indieating elements, for example milliammeters, corresponding in number to the number of damage control compartments. A meter is allocated to each damage control compartment, and is connected over conductors to the electrodes disposed therein. l y

So long as a given damage control comparte -ment is empty no voltage will be generated b'e-f tween the electrodes, and theassociatedmeter at the control. panels will show zero registration. On the other hand, when the compartment contains sea water, the voltage generated between the now immersed electrodes will establish a current no w through the associated meter at the control panel to deflect the needle thereof.

Inasmuch as individual damage control compartments may be quite large, having a depth of thirty feet or more in certain instances, it is desirable that the control panel Vmeters indicate not merely whether a given compartment is empty or contains sea water, but as to the latter, the 'extent to whlchfthe kcompartment is filled at any given instant, as -well as its r-.ate ot filling. Such indications may be secured, in accordance with the invention, by extending one ofthe electrodes. for example, the negative electrode, i'rom top to bottom of the tank. 'I'he electrode ot opposite` u sign-in this (case the positive electrode-is broken up into sections disposed at successive elevations of' the tank, with resistors bridged between these sections. a

With this arrangement, sea water owing into the tank will irst immerse only the lowest sector `through allot the-resistors insel-ies in flowingy ved to the lowest positive electrode sector.

through the control panel meter thus deflecting its needle to a relatively slight extent. As the water rises -to immerse the next higher positive electrode sector, the meter current is increased primarily by reason of the fact that the portion supplied thereto by the additional voltage thus generated does not traverse the "resistor connect- Similarly as the water rises to successively higher positive electrode sectors, the .meter current increases progressively because for each successive immersion thereof an additional resistor is removed from the circuit traversed by the meter current. The deflection of the control panel meter thus indicates the extent of lling of the associated -compartment at any given instant, while the rate of deflection of the needle apprises the operator as to the rate of filling.

An important aspect of the invention is the determination that certain combinations of electrode materials resist polarization to a markedly greater degree than do others. Polarization may be broadly `defined as' any inter-electrodic action (such` as gas formation and oxide deposition at either or both of the electrodes due to electro-chemical exchange between the electrolyte and the electrode) tending to degenerate.

the cells E. M. F. `A resistance interposed in the current withdrawal circuit, if above a critical value, inhibits polarization. Thus is postulated a relationship betweenthe electrodic materials and\the value of the limiting resistor which may be low for electrodes highly resistant to polarization and correspondingly higher for electrodes of lesser resistance.

According to a feature of the invention, the

meters maybe` arranged on the panel board in conformity with the physical layout of the associated damage control compartments in the ships hull. The operator thus has before him at all times a diagrammatic or pictorial representation by means' of which he may instantaney ously envisage the condition of the entire ship as to the ballasting action of the damage control compartments. l

According to a further feature of the invention, there is identified with each meter on the control panel, an alarm circuit comprising a lamp and optionally also a bell. Initial deflection of a meter dueto entry of sea water. into th associatedl damage control compartment actuates the alarm circuit permanently to light the lamp and ring 'the bell until vthe alarm circuit is .manually reset by the operator. The manual reset feature assures that the change in status of the compartment will not pass un'- noticed by the observer.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates in part schematically and in part as a circuit diagram, the' invention as applied to a single damage control compartment for indicating thelamount of sea water in the compartment as well as its rate 4of filling;

Fig. '2 shows in longitudinal section the construction for the electrodes of a damage control compartment wherein the electrode` of one type of metal is in the form of a continuous tubular shell within which are mounted at intervals a plurality of electrodes of a diierent type` of metal. The outer shell is of a height corresponding to the depth of the compartment, the inner electrodes being spaced according to the elevations at which successive'indications are desired as to the depth of flooding of the come partment;

Figs. 3 and 4 show a modified electrode con struction wherein each damage control compartment is provided at successive elevations with a plurality of pairs of positive and negative electrodes, n iounted'inV the compartment 5 as illustrated in Fig. 3 in elevation, with each paix" of electrodes enclosed in a housing as illustrated in Fig. 4.- f I Fig. 5 illustrates schematically the manner in which the indicating devices for therindivldual 10' control compartments are arranged on a control panel, in conformity with the actual layout of the. associated damage control compartments within the hull of the ship.

Referring to Fig. 1, a damage control com- 15 partment l, illustrated schematically in sectional elevation, is shown partially filled withsea water 2.

trode 1 of one type of metal, such as aluminum, V

extending from near the top to near the bottom of the compartmen Spaced somewhat;30

y.from electrode 1 are a plurality of electrodes 3 to I 2 inclusive, composed of a'diiferet type of metal, such as copper, from .that of electrode 1.

`Electrodes 8 to I21nclusiveare disposedrespectively at increasing elevations such as near the 35 bottom, at elevations of one-fourth, lone-half, and three-quarters, and also near the top ofthe compartment. l

Electrodes 8 to I2 inclusive are wired by means of conductors I6 individual thereto to a point ex- 40 ternal to compartment I where series connected resistorsll to 2l inclusive are 'bridged in succession between the successive electrodes 3 and I2 inclusive, with the uppermost electrode I2 connected through the last resistor 2l of the series 45 and over a conductor 2 2 tone terminal of av suitable indicating device, such as an ammeter 23, mounted on a.- control panel located at some convenient point vof the ship, such as at the central control or on the bridge. The op`50 posite terminal of meter 23 is connected over a conductor 25 and through a meter 25' (located adjacent compartment I) to electrode 1.

Meter' 23 is provided with a deflectable indicator 26 which, at its 'point of maximum deflec- 55 tion completesv a circuit through a contact 21 to operate a relay 28 with electrical energy supplied from the shlps generators over conductors 29. Momentary energization of relay 23 in this manner, completes a circuit from the power' sup- 6 0 ply line 29 and through the back contact 30 and armature 3I of the relay, whereby the'relay' locks itself in the operated condition until released by manual depression of knob- 32 aillxed" to the `as sea water begins to ow into the damage control compartment I,l the lowermost electrode 8 is wiredover a conductor 35, through a 75 .nected to electrode 9.

Inasmuch as-in the embodiments of Figs. 2l to p normally closed .back contactJ 36,/and armature 31 of relay 28, and through meter 28 and thence back over conductor 25 to electrode 1., VAls soon, therefore, as the sea water is of -sumci'ent depth to immerse the lowermost electrode 9 the voltage thus produced between electrodes Il, 8 causes sumcient current to i'glowthrough meter 28 to deilect needle 26y against contact 21 thereby completing the circuit to energize and lock up- -relay 28, and in turn to operate the alarm circuit.

Relay 28 upon operating and locking up, opens the circuit traced over conductor 35 at the back contact 91 of the relay, whereupon the current now supplied to meter 23 over conductors 22, 25 from electrodes 1, 8, is forced to traverse all oi thefresistors I1 to 2I in series. Themeter curl rent is thus reducedv to such 'a low value thatl the needle 28 swings Iback substantially to zero, under the eye of the observer whose attention should by this time have been attracted to the meter by operation of the alarm.

When the sea water has risen to theiheight immersing electrode 9, the resulting voltage generated between electrodes 1, 9 will increase the meter current in thatgthe current path therefrom to the meter excludes the resistor i1 con- Similarly, as" the water rises successively to electrodes I0, II and I2 the meter current will increase progressively dueprimarily to exclusionof resistors i8, I 9 and 28 from the current path to the meter. A single lamp 38 of characteristic identifying color or construction maybe provided on the control board 24 to indicate continuously whether or not power is being supplied over leads 29. T9 this end lamp 38 is bridged directly across the line as shown.

I'he electrodes 1 to I2 inclusive shown schematically in Fig. 1 may be physically embodied as illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein the continuous electrode 1 .takes the form of one or a number' of metal tubular sections 39, 40 terminating in radial flanges for Joining by bolts or otherwise as shown. Members 4I, 42 or insulatingD material,

' such as Bakelite, are disposed within and sup ported by members 89, 40. The electrodes 8 to I2 inclusivein the form of metal sleeves surround and are secured to the metal insulating supports at intervals corresponding to the required elevation in the damage control compartment I. Each of the electrodes 8 to I2 inclusive is connected as shown at 49 to a conductor I6 housed in a. cable 44 occupying a central bore in members 4I, 42. The upper en'd of the electrode structure terminates in a chamber 45 housing the resistors I1 to 2l inclusive, as shown.

Y In the construction of Figs. 3 vand 4, the conductor 1 of Fig. 1 is broken up into sections cor' responding to electrodes 8 to, I2 inclusive. IThe 'resulting .positive and negative electrodes are' noused in pairs4 in casings 5I lto 55 inclusive, mounted successively at desired elevations within the damage control compartment I. The casingsv are provided with removable cover plates, that 'of Fig. 4 being removed. 'I'he positive and negative electrodes and 51 are mounted on 4opposite sides of a cable 58 extending upward through each of the casings, and thence through the top of the damage control Ycompartment I to a casing 58 housing the resistors I1 to 2 I inclusive of Fig. 1. I'he negative electrodes .are grounded to the damage control compartment.

[a ground lead 60 extendingjrom each housingA 'to vconductor 25, within the cable. 'I'he positive electrodes are wired to the resistors I1 to 2|,

i inclusive, the electrode or electrodes of one polarity, are grounded to the damage control compartment I, it will be understood that the compartment I may itself comprise the electrode of one polarity, such as that corresponding to elecmeters are arranged on the panel to present a diagrammatic representation of the physical layout within the ships hull of the associated dam-l age controlcompartments individually connected thereto over conductors 82. In consequence of this arrangement the damage control ofdcer can envisage at a glance the status of all compart' ments.

With the remote indicating system of the present invention, no live wires extend from the ships generators to the damage control compartment. So long as the compartments are empty the wires extending therefrom to the cony trol points arewholly dead and even when the compartments are illled the resulting current ow in this construction is extremely minute and the voltage generated by the electrolytic cell action wholly negligible as regards fire hazard due to possible short circuits.

Failure oi' the ships generators affects only the alarm circuits on the control panels, the meters being operable independently thereof to indicate the status of the damage control compartments `even though the generator-shave failed. This i'eavture is of extreme importance during a naval engagement.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for indicating the quantity of an electrolytic solution in a compartment comprising: .a plurality of electrodesA disposed at successive elevations in said compartment, a resistance,v

means individually connecting said electrodes to successive points of said resistance, an electrode which is electropotentially dissimilar to said plurality, and exposed thereto at said successive elevations, a current meter connected from said electrode toy the topmost electrode of said plurality, a lock-up relay having front and back contacts, a connection from said meter through back contacts of said lock-up relay to thelowermost electrode of said plurality, a source of elec- 4 trical power, signaling means energizable therefrom through front contacts of said relay, and means including the said connection to said lowermost electrode for actuating said relay in response tomomentary maximum deiiectionA of said meter on immersion of the lowermost' electrode of said plurality in said electrolyte.

2. Apparatus for indicating the depth of an electrolytic solution in a compartment which comprises a plurality of electrodes disposedat diierent elevations in said compartment,` a plurality of current impeding means connected between adjacent pairs of said electrodes which are successively short-circuited as the solution rises into contact with more than one electrode, electrodic means which is electropotentially dissimilar to said plurality or electrodes and exposed thereto at successive elevations, and current responsive means connected between said electrodic means and said plurality of electrodes and said current impeding means for indicating the progressive immersion of said electrodes.

3. Apparatus for indicating the depth of an electrolytic solution in 'a compartment which comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed at. Y diierent elevations ,in said compartment, resistors connected between successive electrodes of said plurality which are successively short-circuited as the solution rises into cntact with more than one electrode, electrodic means which is electropotentially dissimilar'to said plurality of electrodes-and exposed thereto at successive elevations, and current responsive means connected to said electrodic means and said plurality of electrodes and current impeding means for indicating the progressive immersion of said electrodes.

electrolytic solution in a compartment, which 'comprises a series of electrodes disposed at different elevations in said compartment, a yco-` 4'. Apparatus for indicating they depth of an operating electropotentiallydissimilar electrode opposite each `of said first named electrodes, resistors bridgedy betweensuccessive 4electrodes of one polarity which are successively short-circuited as the solution rises into-contact with more than one electrode, and -an electrical indicatorv the response of which varies with the magnitude of current therein, connected between the tope most electrode Joined to a resistor yand the electrodeof opposite polarity, thereby to provide an indication which*H varies with progressive, immersion of said electrodes.

5. Apparatus, for indicating-the depth of an'- electrolytic solution in a compartment, which comprises a series of electrodesdisposed at different elevations in saidc compartment, a cooperating electropotentially dissimilar electrode opposite each of said flrst named-electrodes,vre

sistors bridged between successive electrodes of one polarity which are' successively. shortecir# cuitedas the solution rises into contact with more than one electrode, anelectrical indicator the response 'of which varies with the magnitude of currentV therein, connected between the topmost electrode jined to a resistor and the electrode oiopposite polarity whereby the response of said indicator varies' with progressive immersion'of said electrodes, a source of electrical power, a signal operable therefrom, and means for actuating said signaling means from said power source on immersion of the lowermost electrode joined to aresistor.

6. Apparatus forv indicating the depth of an electrolytic solution in a compartment,v which 'comprises a ,series of electrodes, disposed at different velevations in said compartment, a cooperating electropotentially dissimilarl electrode opposite -eachof said first named electrodes, re-

sistors bridged between successive electrodes of one polarity which are successively short-circuited as the solution `rises into contact with more than one electrode, an electrical indicator the response of which varies with the magnitude y of the current therein, connected between the 'comprises a series of electrodes disposed at dif- .ferent elevations in said compartment,A a cooperating electropotentially dissimilar electrode opposite each of said first named electrodes,.re

sistors bridged between successive electrodes ofone polarity which are successively short-circuited as the solution rises into contact with more Nthan one electrode, an electrical indicator the response of which varies with the magnitude of the current therein, connected between the topmost electrode joined to'a resistor and the elec- ,trodes .of opposite polarity, a'lock-up relay. a

source of electrical power, signaling means energizable therefrom through-.contacts-of said relay, 1

said indicator and a connection therefrom to thev lowermost electrode joined to aresistor for actuating said relay and thereby said signaling means and for breaking said connection'in responseto momentary maximum response of said indicator on immersion of said electrode whereby said indi'- cator thereafter provides a response which varies with progressive immersion of said electrodes.

8.Apparatus for indicating the depth lof an electrolytic solution in a compartment, which comprises a series of electrodes disposed at successive elevations'in said compartment, a cooperating electropotentially dissimilar electrode opposite each J'of said first named electrodes, re-

sistance means bridged across successive electrodes of one polarity whereby progressively decreasing resistance is interposed as the solution rises into contact with successive electrodes, and an electric indicator thev response of which varies with the magnitude of the current therein, connected between the topmost electrode joined to said means and the electrodes of opposite polarity, thereby to provide an indication which varies with the progressive immersion of said electrodes.

- HERBERT S.'POLIN.

FRANCIS B. STODDERT. 

